VW rejects Australian study's diesel findings

VW rejects Australian study's diesel findings

Volkswagen has rejected an independent study of its controversial diesel emissions software which found an increase in the fuel consumption of one Australian vehicle.

The Australian Automotive Association, peak body for motoring clubs such as the NRMA ad RACV, commissioned independent testing of a diesel-powered Volkswagen Golf wagon before and after it received a software update from the manufacturer.

The AAA took laboratory and real-world test samples from a 2010 VW Golf 2.0 TDI wagon, finding that VW’s software updated elicited “slight increase in power and torque” as well as “increased fuel consumption”.

Research group ABMARC, which conducted testing on behalf of the AAA, found urban fuel consumption for the vehicle increased by 2 per cent following the software update, with rural fuel use up by 7 per cent. “The motorway segment showed the highest increase in fuel consumption to 14 per cent greater than the pre-recall test,” it said.

ABMARC tested the car on four occasions, performing one “cold start” and “hot start” test of the vehicle before and after it received the software update.

AMBARC and the AAA reported a significant decrease in particulates and nitrogen oxides, finding no difference in acceleration performance.

The AAA is pushing for real-world fuel and emissions testing to be made mandatory in Australia. Current fuel and emissions figures come from a laboratory environment that has been manipulated by car companies such as VW, which were able to determine when a car was being tested and adjust its engine behaviour accordingly.

While laboratory tests are not always an accurate reflection of real-world fuel use, they are more consistent and repeatable than real-world testing that offers more variables

Data recorded during ABMARC tests shows that the car’s original warm test was conducted in dry conditions, while the follow-up post-recall test was performed in slightly cooler weather with “light rain”.

It also shows the test car stopped on 27 occasions during its pre-recall test, a number that increased to 37 stoppages when follow-up testing occurred eight days later. The post-recall warm test also ran for 97 minutes, five minutes more than the pre-recall assessment. Those differences could account for some of the increased fuel consumption recorded after VW’s software update was installed.

Volkswagen Australia did not agree with the group’s pre and post-recall findings, saying it “rejects the comparison sought to be made by the AAA”.

A statement issued by the manufacturer said “the German government approved Volkswagen's software update on the basis that it did not adversely affect the emissions or fuel economy of vehicles in test conditions”.

“The leading motorists' organisations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland have tested vehicles and concluded that vehicles continue to perform as expected after the software update,” it said.

“Their conclusions after testing these cars, consistent with the views of the German government agency responsible for approving the software update, are exactly the opposite of what the AAA has asserted its testing shows.”

Volkswagen Australia statement issued Tuesday March 13:

Volkswagen Group Australia has called out the Australian Automobile Association for applying flawed methodology to its claimed “real world” fuel consumption and emissions testing.

Data recorded published by the AAA highlights glaring inconsistencies in the methods applied to testing a single 2010 Volkswagen Golf Wagon.

“While the PEMS testing procedure used by the AAA may in principle be appropriate for testing emissions of nitrogen oxides, due to the high PEMS tolerances of ± 10%, it is simply not suitable for testing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions,” said VGA Managing Director Michael Bartsch.

“Furthermore, major flaws which render the tests wholly unfit for purpose included substantial variations in the test runs and atmospheric conditions both on the same vehicle and different vehicles and even the performance of different vehicles being compared.”

“The so-called new test results are not new and were published by AAA early 2017 and sank without a trace,” Mr Bartsch said. “This is cynical opportunism based on the timing of an important trial in the Federal Court.”

“As far as VW vehicles are concerned, on-road testing by reputable motorists organisations in Germany, Switzerland and Austria show the opposite results to those arrived at by the AAA.”

“The differences between laboratory tests and on-road testing results are well known and the ACCC has worked with all automobile manufacturers on approved wording, which Volkswagen Group members use in Australia, to ensure that this is properly disclosed to consumers.”

Mr Bartsch said that Volkswagen is an enthusiastic proponent of real world testing of vehicles for NOx emissions, and supported the recent introduction of new test cycles in Europe which better reflect real world conditions.